Students were not alone in their efforts to speak out against the issues of gun control and shootings at the March for Our Lives protest in Washington, D.C., on Saturday as several parents, teachers and others followed the example set by students. Over 800 sister marches took place across the country and around the globe in response to mass shootings in schools and other places across the nation.

Hundreds of thousands of people attended the rally on Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, and a good portion of that crowd was there to support student voices and to speak out on issues they have been impacted by.

Ellen Kings from Reston, Virginia, attended the march with her friends and said she was impressed with the power and action seen in the student speakers who were all younger than 20 and had been impacted by gun violence.

“We are here to support the voices of the youth,” Kings said. “We are not young anymore, but we are here for their generation. I very much believe in stopping gun violence. I am with the kids 100 percent. It is so special that it is all kids that spoke, and their vocal power will make impacts long after today.”

Those who work in schools also came to the nation’s capital to speak out for safety for their students and their educational environments. Erin O’Brien, who is a school social worker from Rochester, New York, wishes to keep children safe through stricter gun control.

“I think it is very important to keep kids safe,” O’Brien said. “I think that comes through mental health care and limiting access to guns. It is important to know that everyone’s voices are being heard from students to parents to concerned people across the nation. We, as a country, need to talk more about less automatic weapons which kill quicker.”

Parents and concerned citizens also attend the march to show their desire for new policies and to speak out against the National Rifle Association’s meddling in politics. Eric Kessler from Baltimore, Maryland, is a father who marched with his family and is ready for a change in gun laws.

“I believe in the cause of having reasonable gun control laws,” Kessler said. “While gun violence has not impacted me personally, I think the country will be better off with gun control. I don’t like the way the NRA takes control over our government. Just as we broke the tobacco industry, we will break the gun industry.”

Robin Sandy and his wife, who in flew from Arizona for the rally, shared similar sentiments for the reason why they made the trip to the protest.

“We believe there needs to be greater gun control,” Sandy said. “The government takes money from the NRA. Then those politicians don’t make a stand on gun control because money is more important to them than human lives.”

The family also came to the March for Our Lives to honor a family member who was a victim of gun violence at a concert.

“We need less guns, less assault weapons on the street,” Sandy said. “Schools are not the only issue; shootings have happened in churches, concerts and theaters. We are here to honor our family member, Angie Gomez, who was killed in a shooting at a concert. That is who we are representing.”

Many at the rally said it was impressive that the younger generations took the lead in organizing March for Our Lives and are the main proposers of change.

Richard Clark from Boston said he was just a bystander with no positions on the issues being discussed at the march. He shared his thoughts on the spectacle on Pennsylvania Avenue.

“The crowds coming out for today are very helpful for what they are trying to accomplish, and these kids are inspiring,” Clark said. “There is hope in the lives and voices of these students. My generation has dropped the ball so hopefully this next one will pick it up and run far with it.”

Many students were shocked and appreciative of their older supporters and claims that it shows that different people of different ages and beliefs can come together to make a change.

“Today shows that there are so many people of all ages and backgrounds that agree and are behind this movement,” said Leah Horan, an Occoquan High School senior from Occoquan, Virginia. “It is bipartisan as well. They care about the kids and their future and people’s lives and safety in general. The amount of people here today proves that it is time for change.

Kathy Gonzalez from Memphis, Tennessee, said she thinks that this generation of students are leading the country into change and a brighter future.

“These children really shouldn’t be called children anymore because they are more adult-like in their actions and words than most people in administration right now,” Gonzalez said. “They are taking charge and doing something. They will make a difference and be sure that something is done to fix this issue.”